Feeler-motion for looms.



APPLICATION FILED [AR- 6. "H6- Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Affo rlle rmoanns, or'hnornnann, JMAssAcHUsE'rTs, ASSIGNOR, riY Masha Lesionlmai rs,arm mnwrm. otmrona'rloisw, on HOPEDALE, MASSAGHUSET'DS; Aconronu Twill ham it may concern "Bg'e it lat'nown that I, ALoNzo E. RHoADns, a pl tiaen'ofjthe United States, residin at flp ffi da leicounty of Worcester, and tate of assachusetts, have invented an Imfirgg :I'QTQIHQQI FGQLlBi' ll/IOUQIIS For Looms, of w hg c the followmg description, in connecft ipn w th the accompanying drawings, is a spec fication, like characters on the drawings regyesentmg like parts.

he invention to be hereinafter described relates to filling replenishing controlling: 'means for l0oms, and more particularly to the feeler motion for efiecting filling replenishment prior to the complete exhaustion of the fillingsin the active shuttle.

The amount. of filling remaining on the bobbin after a replenishing operation constitutesgvaste. tllKlll'li-flddlillOil to the loss of ,y'arnvalue, entails labor and ex )ense in removing the waste-from the be bin, whichmust be done before the bobbin can be again used. The amount of yarnremaining on .ithei bobbin when it is ejected from the loom shouldbe assmall as ossible consistent with wp roper weavlng con itions and the tor-ination of full. picks up to the time of filling replenisl'imenta This amount will depend directly upon the feeler motion which should detect approaching exhaustion of filling and "then call for replenishment only when the desired degree of exhaustion has been reached: i I

"One of the important:features of the present invention. therefore, consists of a feeler guard which, so lon as aworking supply of filling isp'resent in the shuttle on a detecting beat of the lay, engages the mass of iarding posidon -thereb to prevent functional operation o'f'thefeelerybut when the filling has been drsitt'n fronrtheshuttle so that it is nearing exlraustio n,[the "feeler guard is moved by theiii-outward "push of the bobbin from "gii'aiding' prijsiti on, threby permitting the feelir to detect the condition of the filling aaaibeeome functionally operative to effect 'i elfilenishment when the-deslred degree of lli ng exhaustion has beenreached and is detected. I

In carrying this feature of the invention into ractical eflechthe feeler guard ispreferab y formed as a level-having an offset pivotal connection with a part of the feeler Specification of Letters Patent.

realism-Mortonroairiooms. ii i and a filling engaging end portion which normally pro ectS beyond or rearward of the filling enga ing end of the feeler'itself,

so that upon a etecting beat of tihe lay if a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, the feeler guard will engage the fillmg and be held thereby from pivotal move ment due to the frontward beat of the lay, but when the filling is nearing exhaustion the small amount en aged by the feeler guard will be insufliclent to hold it from pivotal movement under the frontward push of the bobbin, and it will be moved from guarding position and expose the feeler to perform its detecting function. When the feeler guard has been thus moved from guarding position by the frontward push of the bobbin and the filling has been replenished, it must be returned toguarding position, and another feature of the invention consists in the means for resetting or returning the feeler guard to guarding posi-. tion after it has been moved from said position by the frontward push of the bobbin The above features and others forming part of the present invention will be hereinafter descrlbedin connection with the ac coinpanying drawing showing one good practical form thereof, it being understood that changes may be made in the described construction without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

In the 'drawings: a 1

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a feeler niotion embodying the present invention, some of the parts being broken away and only so much of the loom being shown as is necessary to make clearthe construction and operation of the invention Fig. 2 is a plan view of the feeler and associated parts on a somewhat smaller scale than in Fig. 1; i i;

Fig. 3 is a detached detail perspective with portions brokenaway to show the relation of the parts when the lay beats up with a 7 1 1 y i i L Patented Apr.9, 1918. 'APPlieation filed March e,19ie. Serial No. 82,281.

working supply of filling inthe shuttle; and

ing type. that is. it comprises two members, one of which is adapted to Jenetrate the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat or enter between the coils thereof, and the other is an impinging member adapted to contact with but not penetrate or sink into the filling on a detecting beat of the lay, and while the feeler guard of the present invention is especially useful in connection with this general type of feeler, it is not restricted thereto but may be advantageously em ployed with other forms of feelers.

The feeler stand 1 may be secured in position by any appropriate means, one good practical form of which comprises a bracket 2 to which the feeler stand is connected adjustably by the screws 3 which pass through a slot 4 in the stand. To further secure the stand to the bracket and yet permit of the desired relative adjustment. the bracket 2 is provided with the spaced adjusting screws 5, Figs. 1 and 2, the ends of which bear against the side of the stand 1. These details may. of course be varied or replaced by any means for holding or supporting the feeler to be described in operative position.

The feeler stand is provided with a feeler, the function of which is to feel into the shuttle to detect the condition of the fillin therein and upon substantial exhaustion o thefilling to set parts in position to efi'ect filling replenishment or otherwise change the condition of the loom.

In the present instance, the feeler stand has mounted .thereon for movement toward and from the front of the loom, the feeler slide 6 which constitutes one form of feeler carrier. the shank ortion T of which ex.- tends throu h the eeler stand, and means are provide for normally holdi the feeler slide in its rearward position, suc means in the present instance, comprising a spring 8, one portion of which bears against a shoulder 9, Fig. 2, of the fceler slide, and the other end of which is seated against the wall- 10 of a cavity in the feeler stand in which the spring is contained, the construction being such that the spring 8' normally holds the feeler slide in its rearward position but permits such slide to move frontward.

Rising from the feeler' stand 1 is the bri or abutment 11 havin an opening 12. xtending u ward from t e feeler slide 6 in the front of t e bridge 11 isa projection 13, between which and, the front face of the bridge 11 extends the controller 14 which me. be of usual for controlling filling rep enishment or other operation of the loom. In order that the controller 14 and projection 13' may be desirably held in associated"relation, there extends through the -projection'13 an adjnsting screw 15 which maybe provided with a usual lock nut for maintaining therein. face of the adjusting along the cam 'and will be screw in proper relation with the from ta e of the controller 14.

The controller 14 as indicated more clearly in Fig. 1. extends to one side offthe feeler stand and is pivotally mounted upon a stud 16 connected to a transmitter 17 pivoted at 18 to a convenient part of the looln frame or a bracket ehtending therefr m. said controller. transmitter and pivotal connection of said parts being of the usual or any preferred construction. as well understood by those skilled in the art. A spring 19 acting upon the controller 14 normally holds the end of the controller 14 against the front face of the bridge 11. As usual in this type of mechanism. the transmitter is provided with a side projecting )ortion 20, F ig. 1, having a slot through whic 1 the controller extends, the lower wall 21 of said slot heiu; provided with the usual cam portion or incline, the construction being such that should the controller 14 be moved toward the open portion of the slot. that is. to the right in Fig. 1, the adjacent end of the transmittal will be depressed and its other end operated to set certain parts not herein illustrated, as they are well known to those skilled in the art, for initiating filling replenishment.

In order that the movement of the. controller 14 may be properly guidechthe bridge 11 has secured thereto a plate or guide 22. This guide has an open or slotted portion 23, best indicated in Fig. 4, for properly guiding the end of the controller 14 as the latter is moved upon call for filling replenishment, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Any suitable means may be employed for securing the controller guide 22 in o erative position, as for instance, the screw hit '24, Fi 2. From the construction.ili-,iis tat-described, it will be apparent that u on movement of the controller 14 for initiating filling replenishment, or.toward the front of.

the loom in the present instance, it will ride lded in its movement by the guide 22 which, as the controller returns to its initial position as will more fully appear, serves to direct the controller and accurately locate the operating end thereof. The guide 22 is of importance in this character of construction, because it prevents movement of the controller by the cam part 21 of the transmitter and compels the transmitter to respond to movement under cotiperat'ion of the controller and thecam 21;

ortion 21 of the transmitter The feeler slide {5 is extended rearwardly:

and has an impinglng end portion 25.which,f

under conditions to be hereinafter-described, may contact with the fillingin the sh lltfl b from the feeler slide 6 are as the lay makes its detecting e we tween which at 27 is pivotally mountcdfiic M11128 which, for convenience of ident fica- W as thelay heats up,

. .wuheriwthereby lifting. the bifurcated end of ,tiOII, may be herein termed the actuator..

.ljlfl x i i lg hack from the pivotal [point 27 "argue actuator 28, is 'a. projection 29 beneatlr v ;which isa spring 30 normally actingto press {5, the projection u Jwardly andconsequontly fldfe dler, slide 6 isftlie penetrating member 32 pf feelemthe end portion 33 of which is pre' erahlyformed as a small projection ,,.adapted, npder certain conditions, to sink lti nto orpenetratethe filling in the shuttle q M The penetrating mem- .t,bei",.3 2,extendsfllongitudinally of the feeler gl ded and abuts gen front portion against a shoulder 34, below the pivotal mounting 20,-. 2], ofithe actuator 28, the construction being such {that should thcpenetrating member of ,thefeeler be moved relatively to the impinging member 25, it will act against the shoulder. 34 and lift the bifurcated end 31 25 of r the actuator into )osition for engagement with the/end of t e controller 14, substantially as indicated in Fig. 4. The relation of the impingingand penetratijng members of the feeler 15 such that an xijhen sufficient fillingv remains in the shuttle Ito; enable the penetrating member to sink {:thereinto, before theimp nging member on.

.gagesithe filling, said feeler members will babe moved frontwardly on a detecting beat 35 of teen substantially in unison, and the -actuator 28 will; remain with its bifurcated end 31 in depressed position, as indicated in ,Fig, 3; but should the filling have reached s'ubstantial exhaustion and only sufficient rebzllflfijlll inthe shuttleto make one, two, or more picks, the penetrating member 33 will be struck by the more dense surface of the on. filling carrier or bobbin 35 as the lay beats r1 rum-mud cause said penetrating member to befrmoved rclatively to the impinging mem- 'the; aotuatordZS into operative relation with the-controller 14, and upon further frontward movement-of the lay, both members of the feeler andactuator 28 willbe moved t ffontw'ard to thereby correspondingly move the controllerandHinitiat-e filling replenishimenh M "l.

- The ,prese nt' invention contemplates as an 5% important feature thereof, that when a woi'king' supplyof filling is present, the

feeler shall not engage the filling on the detesting" beat,*and= sha1l only become functionallyoperat'ive to detect, the condition of the filling in the shuttle when the'filling has approached" close to the condition of s rbstanti'aleichaiistion. Tothis end, a feeler" gears is provided; the end of which nornor-1y projects be'yond or rearward of the feeler to engage the filling on the detecting beat. and when a working supply is :n'c'scnt in the shuttle, to be maintainedin feelerguarding position by the fill'ng aslt'he lay heats up; but when the filling. has. a proached a condition when feeleua'ction is desired, the guard will be moved awayfrom feeler-gluirdlng position by the push of the bobbin against the feeler guard as the lay makes its detecting beat, thereby exposing the feeler for its functional. operation.

In the present instance-the feeler guard 36 is pivotally mounted at 37 on a lug 38 extending from one side of the feeler slide and its filling engaging end is roughened or formed with teeth 39, the construction being such that when the lay makes a detecting beat and a working supply of filling is presout, as indicated in Fig. 3, the roughened or toothed end 39 of the feelelguard will sink into the filling and prevent movement of the feelenguard from guarding position as the lay continues its frontward movement. When, however, the filling approaches close to substantial exhaustion, and itis desired that the feeler shall become functionally operative, the toothed or roughened end 39 of the feeler guard will engage the few coils of filling yet remaining on the bobbin or carrier. in the shuttle or the more dense surface of the bobbin itself, and be moved sidewise from its guarding position by the push or frontwurd movement of the bobbin as the lay advances, thereby exposing the feeler for its functional action. After the feeler guard has been thus moved from the guarding position and the feeler is permitted to act, the normal operation of the lo'oni may continue until the feeler has detected that condition of filling exhaustion which calls for filling replenishment, whereupon, the parts will be positioned as hereinbefor'e described to initiate filling replenishment.

In order to guide the feelergu'ard in its movement lon itudina-lly of the shuttle to expose thefee or when the filling hasaproached a condition nearing exhaustion, the eeler guard is mounted for movement transversely of the feeler between the top surface of the feeler'and a rea'rwardly-extending guide 40 secured to or formed as part of the portions 26 mounted on the feeler slide. When the {eele guard has been moved longitudinally of the shuttle from its guarding position as indicated in Fig. 4, due to the forward push of the bobbin or filling carrier in the shuttle and the lay retreats,

it isdesirable that the feeler guard be again returned to its {eeler-guarding position, and

to this end i the feeler guard is provided with 'aprojecting portion 41, ada ted to engage the' downturned end 42 o a, rod 43; which may be suitably supported by the feeler stand. In the present instance the;

the feeler gliar rod 43 extends through suitable guides 44: of the feeler stand and is normally pressed rearwardly into operative position by a spring 45 disposed between the front guide 44 and an abutment or pin 46 secured to the rod 43, substantially as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 the construction being such that should the feler guard be moved into position as indicated in Fig. l on the forward movement of the lay, it will be returned to its guarding position as the lay retreats, by engagement of the projection l1 extendfrom the feeler-guard-engaging end of the rod 43. Other appropriate means might, of course be employed f.or returning d to guarding position, but that described is found to be a good, practical form of means to this end.

In order that when the fecler guard is retinned to guarding position it may be prevented from overmovement, a stop pin 47 may be employed, such stop pin preferably projecting upwardly from the feeler slide 6 at indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and serving toliinit the resetting movement of the feeler ,ing approaches substantial exhaustion to permit the feeler to detect the condition of the filling.

2. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feelerto feel for the filling in the shuttle, means controlled through the healer to initiate filling replenishment when the filling is substantially exhausted, and a :Eeeler guard adapted to be held in feeler guarding position by the frontward push of the filling when a working supply is m theshuttleand movable from sai position by the frontward push of the bobbin when roaches ubstantial exhaustion,

the filling ap 3. In a fee er'motion for looms, the combination-of a feeler, a feeler and normfllyextending beyond the end of the feeler and havinga movement with and independtof the feeler, said guard having a p'or on tohold the aid from movement independent a: the:eler byenga ement with tlte filh -yhenawork1ng supp y is present will, linfiaid feel'er guardto move inifie'eler out of guarding relati ti; f than substantially 4. In a fecler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier, a feeler carried by the feeler arrier to feel for the filling in the shuttle, and a feeler guard mounted on the feeler carrier for movement with and independently of the carrier. said feeler guard havin a roughened end portion to engage the fi ling in the shuttle and be held from such independent movement by the filling when a working supply is present and be moved independcntly of the carrier when the filling approaches substantial exhaustion.

5. In a feeler motion for looms. the combination of a feeler slide, a feeler, and a feeler guard, means acting upon the guard to hold it in guarding position between detecting beats of the lay, and said feeler guard having a portion to engage the filling and be held in guarding position by engagement with the filling as the lay makes its detecting beat with a working supply of filling present in the shuttle and to be moved from guarding position on a detecting beat when the filling nears ubstantial exhaustion.

6. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler lide carrying a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle, a feeler guard pivotally mounted and having a roughened or toothed end portion to engage the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat, and to be moved about its pivot from guarding relation with the feeler by the push of the bobbin when the fillinghas approached a condition near substantial exhaustion to permit the feeler to detect the further condition of the filling.

'7. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler comprising an impingin and a'penetrating member, a feeler guar having a filling engaging end normally projected beyond the ends of said feeler members to engage and be held by the fillin in guarding position when a working supp y is present on a detecting beat and to be moved from guarding position b the frontward push thereon when the filling approaches substantial exhaustion, and means for returning the feeler guard to guarding position.

8. A feeler motion, comprisin in combination a feeler to detect the con 'ition of the filling in the shuttle, a feeler guard to prevent, detecting action of the feeler until the filling approaches a condition near to substantial exhaust-ion and to then be moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle out of guarding position, and means for initiating filling replenishment when the feeler detects substa-ntial exhaustion ofthe filling in the shuttle.

9. A feeler motion, comprisingin combination, a feeler to detect the condition of the fillin in the shuttle, a feeler V prevent etecting action of the f or until 1 ,zozpou the filling approaches a condition near to substantial exhaustion and to then be moved in a direction longitmlinally of the shuttle out of uarding position, means for moving the fee er guard longitudinally of the shuttle in the opposite direction, and means for initiating filling replenishment when the feeler detects substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle.

10. In a fe'eler motion for looms, the com bination of a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle and movable toward and from the front of the loom, a teelei guard projecting beyond the end of the feelcr to engage the filling and be held in guarding position by the filling as the lay beats up un til the filling is near to substantial exhaustion and to be then moved longitudinally of the shuttle away from guarding position, and yielding means for returning the feelerguard to guarding position as the lay moves back.

11. In a feeler motion, the combination of a feeler slide carrying a feeler to Feel for the filling in the shuttle, a teeler guard hav ing an offset pivotal connection with the feeler slide and provided with a filling en gaging end projecting beyond the end of the feeler to be engaged and held by the filling in guarding position as the lay beats up and to'be moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle by the frontivard push when the filling nears substantial exhaustion, and means for initiating filling replenishment when the feeler detects substantial exhaustion of filling.

12. A feeler motion, comprising a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle. a slide carrying said feeler, a fcelcr gmirtlriaving an offset pivotal connection with" the slide, that the guard may be moved about its pivot from guarding position by the frontward push of the filling carrier or bobbin, and

feeler guard resetting. means to turn the feeler guard to guarding position on the fffier slide by rearward movement of the s u e.

1.3. A feeler motion for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler to detect the condition of the filling in the shuttle, a feeler guard to prevent detecting action of the feeler until the filling in the shuttle approaches a condition near to substantial exhaustion and to then be moved out of uarding position to permit detecting action by the feeler, and means for initiating filling replenishment when the feeler detects substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle.

14. A feeler motion for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler to feel for the filling in the sl'mtt-le, and upon substantial exhaustion of the filling to initiate filling,

replenishn'lent, a carrier for normally holding the feeler in rearward position, and a feeler guard to prevent engagement of the feelcr with the filling on a detectin beat until the filling approaches a condition of substantial exhaustion and to then be moved to one side from feeler guarding position to permit the fceler to detect the condition of the filling.

15. In a feeler motion for looms, the com bination of a feeler to feel for the filling in the shuttle and upon substantial exhaustion of filling to initiate filling replenishment, a feeler guard mounted for movement laterally with respect to the feeler and having an end to engage and beheld by the filling from such lateral movement until the filling nears substantial exhaustion and then moved laterally to permit the feeler to detect the condition of the filling.

In testin'iony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALONZO E. RHOADES. 

